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Analysis of segment uplift during shield tunnel construction considering stratum seepage effects
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  • Published: 22 March 2026

Analysis of segment uplift during shield tunnel construction considering stratum seepage effects

  • Jing Guo1,
  • Zonglin Li2,
  • Jinglei Liu2,3,
  • Songhua Wu1,
  • Haiyang Li1,
  • Shuzheng Shi2,4,
  • Qingzhi Ye2,5 &
  • …
  • Xuanwei Wang2 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Engineering
  • Environmental sciences
  • Natural hazards
  • Solid Earth sciences

Abstract

Segment uplift is a common phenomenon during shield tunnelling. To investigate the underlying mechanism and influencing factors under groundwater seepage, this study examines a tunnel section of the Dalian Metro. A three-dimensional grout–segment–soil interaction model was developed based on actual geological conditions, incorporating synchronous grouting and soil permeability. The model was validated against field measurements, and a systematic numerical investigation was conducted to assess the effects of standard operating conditions and various parameters on segment uplift. Results indicate that pore water pressure increases during shield advancement and synchronous grouting, with the greatest influence observed at the invert and the least at the crown. Uplift magnitude increases progressively from the crown to the invert. Most uplift occurs within Rings 0–5 behind the shield tail, after which deformation stabilises. Synchronous grouting accounts for the majority of total uplift, particularly during the injection phase, while groundwater seepage contributes approximately 18.21%. Greater tunnel burial depth, higher grouting pressure, and longer initial setting point distance all lead to increased uplift magnitudes. Based on the normalised analysis, an empirical expression was established to describe segment uplift as a function of tunnel burial depth, grouting pressure, and the initial setting point location.

Data availability

Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the 2024 Hebei Province Universities and Shijiazhuang City Industry-University-Research Cooperation Project (Grant No. 241790877 A), the Hebei Province University Basic Research Business Expenses Project for 2025 (Grant No. 2025ZDTD01, 2025ZDTD05, 2025QNJS05). and the Hebei Institute of Architecture and Engineering Doctoral Initiation Fund (Grant No. B-202311).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Rail Transit Construction CO., LTD, Nanjing, 210000, China

    Jing Guo, Songhua Wu & Haiyang Li

  2. Hebei University of Architecture, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China

    Zonglin Li, Jinglei Liu, Shuzheng Shi, Qingzhi Ye & Xuanwei Wang

  3. Hebei Key Laboratory of Diagnosis, Reconstruction and Anti-disaster of Civil Engineering, Zhangjiakou, 075000, Hebei, China

    Jinglei Liu

  4. Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Intelligent Production Line of Prefabricated Building Components, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China

    Shuzheng Shi

  5. Hebei Innovation Center of Transportation Infrastructure in Cold Region, Hebei University of Architecture, Zhangjiakou, 075000, China

    Qingzhi Ye

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Contributions

**Jing Guo** : Supervision, Methodology, Conceptualization. **Zonglin Li: ** Writing – original draft, Writing–review & editing. **Jinglei Liu: ** Funding acquisition, Conceptualization. **Songhua Wu: ** Writing–Review & editing. **Haiyang Li: ** Supervision. **Shuzheng Shi: ** Methodology, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization, writing–review & editing. **Qingzhi Ye** : Validation, Funding acquisition. **Xuanwei Wang** : Investigation.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shuzheng Shi.

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Cite this article

Guo, J., Li, Z., Liu, J. et al. Analysis of segment uplift during shield tunnel construction considering stratum seepage effects. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44530-4

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  • Received: 22 October 2025

  • Accepted: 12 March 2026

  • Published: 22 March 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-44530-4

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Keywords

  • Segment uplift
  • Synchronous grouting
  • Soil permeability
  • Normalized analysis
  • Pore water pressure
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